Behind the Tech: Reflections and some beliefs around design
Dec 14, 2024
Recently, I was featured in my workplace’s “Behind the Tech” series.
Accepting the feature wasn’t an easy decision1, but I eventually agreed after asking my super awesome partner PM and super awesome manager for their second opinion. The opportunity to talk about design at an org-wide level doesn’t come by often2, and I did feel thankful towards the faith our publicity and branding team had displayed in giving me this opportunity.
Whilst the final published post had to be condensed, the complete Q&A (with some edits for brevity and tone) can be read here 👇:
How did you get interested in digital product design?
This was accidental. I had grown up interested in web design and frontend engineering (thanks, Neopets!). After graduating, I got a very lucky start at Zopim, despite not knowing what exactly I was getting myself into. That experience and my amazing mentors there helped me gain a deep appreciation of the craft.
What is the biggest misconception about a career in design that you think others have?
1.) Designers can’t come from many walks of life.
2.) Design is easy.
(Completely cheating with 2 misconceptions instead of 1. 😬 )
I’ve known and worked with designers from diverse backgrounds—accountancy, law, design school, engineering, math, computer science, psychology, and more. Whilst my engineering degree does help me grasp software concepts more quickly, the role’s demands mean this advantage only goes so far. Being adaptable and quick to learn on the job matters more.
That said, whilst I think anyone can be a designer, not everyone can be a great designer. The best digital product designers have to juggle a lot: the actual UI/UX design, conducting research, managing complexity, focusing both on details and the big picture, collaborating with and influencing stakeholders, understanding business fundamentals, navigating technical constraints… The role is hard.
How would you explain your area of expertise in tech to your grandparents / kids?
“Hello, I make apps like Facebook / Roblox.” 😅
Jokes aside, I specialise in the design of enterprise applications. So, could I pitch it as “I make work software that help people do and like their jobs better”?
What is the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
There are a few I remember fondly. In more recent years, it’d definitely be growing the digital product design function at CSIT, together with the rest of the Design Chapter. A big personal theme in my life has been “defying expectations,” and it’s been so fun seeing how the designers and the design function has grown here, even though there were a few “it’ll never work here” comments initially.
What is the biggest potential challenge / opportunity for the design team as you scale?
The design function right now can only contribute to a small slice of CSIT’s operations, because 1.) we’re a small virtual unit relative to the organisation, 2.) we’re a relatively young and still maturing competency. The downside is we’re not contributing as much as we should. The upside is we’re not contributing as much as we should. There is a lot of room for us to grow in both breadth and depth.
A major challenge is that mindset change required for design maturity takes time. On a day-to-day basis, it can feel like nothing is moving, though actually when we zoom out, maybe we’ve moved leaps and bounds. The designers here care a lot about the work and creating value, and it can be frustrating when there doesn’t seem to be progress. I think we need to train up our inner zen to keep going?
What’s it like working in a cross-functional team with engineers, product managers, etc.?
Better than sliced bread! 🍞
To me, engineering, product management, and design are different but equal weight inputs collectively increasing the likelihood that the “final” delivered digital product is effective, efficient, and engaging. We can’t do without any of the others.
I personally find the other functions also often have different thinking habits and mental models. Working with them helps me broaden my perspectives a lot. Case in point: two of my long-term mentors and close friends for >10 years are a PM and engineering leader respectively, and they still offer amazing guidance and advice even till today that are just… different.3
AI: Friend or foe?
AI is a tool—tools can be either? As a designer, I think we need to learn the tool well, to shape it to serve as a friend?
(Sorry! Super boring answer =X)
What’s the best non-technical trait / skill to have for someone in your role?
To quote a design leader I really look up to: Compassion.
To add my own interpretation: Compassion doesn’t mean being a pushover or not holding people accountable, but it really means seeing people as people. We don’t put people up on a pedestal to the extent that we overlook their developmental areas, nor do we fail to recognize the dignity of others even if we don’t work well together. Compassion also means genuinely wanting to help the people we design for, and appreciating our collaborators and stakeholders as people.
I am human though, and often fail miserably in actually meeting this bar. As a mentor recently reminded me however, we’ll never be perfect, but we strive to get closer to it. This very desire to cherish compassion is itself precious?4
What is one of the most surprising things that people know about you?
My age? 😝 Hmm… Most people can tell I am quite introverted, but most people can’t tell how much of an introvert I really am. I do actually like people, but my social battery drains faster than a first-gen iPhone streaming YouTube.
Do you have a special talent outside of work?
No. I am an incredibly boring and average techie / designer.
Name the coolest thing that you’ve done in your life.
Meh-cool: I was an adjunct lecturer at my alma mater for 8 years.
What I think is quite cool: Meeting my ex-students at design community events, and being told some of them picked this path because of the class I taught, and knowing that some of them are doing really well in their own careers.
I don’t think my lecturing / teaching skills were stellar, and it always feels like I’ve gained more from teaching than my ex-students did from me, but I still feel proud for doing this.
Your advice for those looking to join CSIT?
🤔 I’m not sure if I have advice specific to CSIT… (or if I’m even qualified to give advice?) Well, here goes anyway: Everyone has environments they thrive and don’t thrive in. If you’re someone who can wrangle complexity quite well, I think CSIT might be a good fit? The problems the org deals with can really be quite gnarly.
See you around? 😃